Tires: tire rotation, wheel drive car, rear tires

Question
QUESTION: I recently got two new tires for my Ford Ranger.  The installer recommended that I put them on the rear and keep my 6 mo old (same brand/model) on the front.  I was surprised because I thought that the tires would wear faster under the weight of the engine.  I usually don't carry heavy cargo in the vehicle, so the rear tires are not weighted upon very much. He said that because it's a rear wheel drive car, those tires would wear faster than the front.  I ok'd the install on the rear, but, I think he's incorrect.  What do you think?

ANSWER: David,

The rule is to put new tires on the rear regardless, and this is to prevent the rear end from losing traction in wet or snowy conditions.  It is much better to lose control at the front, where you have a chance of regaining control once the vehicle slows down, rather than lose control at the rear, where the rear end will spin around and you will not be able to gain control.

It has nothing to do with which end wears faster.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I accept that logic, but will my tires wear faster in the front of the Ranger due to the weight of the engine.  If so, then won't I prolong the life of all four tires by rotating them? (And shouldn't I do it now with the not-so-old ones being rotated to the back?

Answer
David,

RWD vehicles generally have the same wear rate front to rear, although the pattern is different.  You get more wear out of tires on RWD by rotating them since the patterns are different and rotating them balances the differences out.

It's FWD vehicles where the wear rates are different front to rear.